Creating a quality DVD

[mgroseclose]

I'm new to DVD creation and would appreciate some assistance getting started on the "right foot".

I want to create the best quality possible DVD from some recordings from a Digitial Video Recorder.

I have created the MPEG2 files from the original recordings.

How many minutes can I get on a DVD?

Is there a software that allows me to get more on a DVD? For example, I copied a 2 hour program for my wife. Is there a way to place it on a DVD? From what I read it can only be accomplished using LOW (352x240 @ 4mbps). Is this qualtiy any good?

I appreciate any assistance.

Mike

[CWR03]

There's plenty to read on this forum that will answer all your questions. The answers will vary greatly depending on your abilities and your budget. You might start in the DVD Authoring sub-forum, or just go to one of the many commercial "drag-and-drop" DVD creation programs.

[Mug Funky]

you can fit ~ 194 minutes onto a DVD-5 at 3000kbps. that's the lowest i'd recommend, even for the fantastic new (free! w00t!) encoders that have been developed recently.

3mbps is only good for already slightly blurry, noise-free footage. or high-quality stuff that's had pre-compression filtering applied to it (like the remastered Godzilla back-catalogue... those films keep coming out too small even with quality maxed out).

that's at full size 720*xxx res.

for a good quality DVD (5000 kbps or higher) you can fit 120 minutes or less onto a DVD-5.

btw, i'm doing these calculations based on a 224 kbps audio track with the same length.

i suggest getting your hands on a good bitrate calculator - it makes things so much easier. i use a great one, but it's an in-house thing, so i can't share it.

[mg262]

Google is a decent bit rate calculator. Try searching for
4.38 GB/3000 kbps in minutes

Or better
4.38 GB/(3000-224) kbps in minutes

fantastic new (free! w00t!) encoders that have been developed recently.I'm glad I read this thread... I've missed that completely. Which ones are worth looking into for high bitrate (6000+) stuff?